I guess I'm in the same boat as Piggy, I too am sure that there cannot exist a God. I've no question for Piggy - sorry for butting in - I just want to make a point.
This thread reminds me of something I read in a book a few years back - I'm sorry to say that the title of it escapes me presently. The author too, I believe was a 'radical atheist.' He allowed for advanced life to exist in the universe but completely disagreed with the possibility of an omnipotent God existing. He introduced a scenario that even strained the most loyal believers:
What if a being just appeared before you and claimed that s/he was God?
What would this being have to do to prove s/he was God?
A fairly simple scenario with some profound consequences. No matter what this apparition does, one could postulate that it was an advanced lifeform rather than a God. Of course, this lifeform might just decide to zap your mind and make you believe (and thus make a joke of free will [not that it doesn't raise a chuckle or two anyway]). An observer to this zapping would call a foul and point out that this was the only option open to this 'God,' to prove s/he was a god.
Could such a being prove his or her divinity via rational debate? Methinks not and this is despite the assumption of omnipotence. Omnipotence is paradoxical and illogical regardless as to the setting in which one examines it.
For the theists out there: what would such a being have to do to prove to you that s/he is the God you believe in? (And not for example - some other entity, like Satan.)
This thread reminds me of something I read in a book a few years back - I'm sorry to say that the title of it escapes me presently. The author too, I believe was a 'radical atheist.' He allowed for advanced life to exist in the universe but completely disagreed with the possibility of an omnipotent God existing. He introduced a scenario that even strained the most loyal believers:
What if a being just appeared before you and claimed that s/he was God?
What would this being have to do to prove s/he was God?
A fairly simple scenario with some profound consequences. No matter what this apparition does, one could postulate that it was an advanced lifeform rather than a God. Of course, this lifeform might just decide to zap your mind and make you believe (and thus make a joke of free will [not that it doesn't raise a chuckle or two anyway]). An observer to this zapping would call a foul and point out that this was the only option open to this 'God,' to prove s/he was a god.
Could such a being prove his or her divinity via rational debate? Methinks not and this is despite the assumption of omnipotence. Omnipotence is paradoxical and illogical regardless as to the setting in which one examines it.
For the theists out there: what would such a being have to do to prove to you that s/he is the God you believe in? (And not for example - some other entity, like Satan.)
